With each voyage undertaken the ship concerned under New Zealand Troop Transport was given a new numberThis explains why below mentioned vessels have a series of numbers suffix to HMNZT as well as revealing just how many voyages each vessel made

NEW ZEALAND EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Consisted of one infantry battalion from each of the four Provinces, Otago, Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland. Each comprising four companies corresponding to and named after the territorial regiments then in existence in the Province or military area, thus constituting that Infantry Brigade. Under this arrangement the 4th (Otago) Regiment, the 8th (Southland) Regiment, the 10th (North Otago) Regiment, and the 14th (South Otago) Regiment each had its representation in the Otago Battalion, nominally, if not actually, to the extent of one company, which was named after and perpetuated the Territorial Regiment

10 August 1916 transhipped from New Zealand the 16th Mounted Rifles (123 troops) to Sydney Australia where they boarded the RMS Mooltan. Arrived England 20 September 1916
14 December 1916 transhipped from New Zealand the 20th Mounted Rifles (113 troops) to Sydney Australia where they boarded the RMS Mooltan. Arrived England 24 January 1917
15 February 1917 transhipped from New Zealand the 22nd Mounted Rifles (122 troops) to Melbourne Australia where they boarded the Borda (A30). Arrived England 8th April 1917
19 April 1917 transhipped from New Zealand the 23rd and 24th Mounted Rifles (258 troops) to Sydney Australia where they boarded the 'Port Sydney' (A15). Arrived England 19 June 1917
31 May 1917 trans-shipped the Mounted Rifles 35th and 36th Reinforcements (276 troops) from New Zealand to Sydney, where they embarked aboard the Port Lincoln (A17) arriving England 19 October 1917
21 February 1918 trans-shipped the Mounted Rifles 25th and 26th Reinforcements (262 troops) from New Zealand to Sydney, where they embarked aboard the RMS Ormonde arriving England 4 April 1918
9th August 1918 trans-shipped the 39th Mounted Rifles (132 troops) either Melbourne or Sydney Australia (details unknown). Further, their time of arrival was 19 September 1918 - location unstated and with a 2 month travelling timespan this date seems unlikely if destination was England
11 October 1918 transhipped the 40th, 41st, 42nd and 43rd Mounted Rifles (451 troops) to Sydney Australia where they boarded RMS Malta. During voyage orders were changed with destination becoming ?unknown?, possibly Egypt where they arrived 22 November 1918

Post Hostilities

Resumed passenger services between Wellington - Sydney - Hobart also known 'horseshoe' run
Scrapped at Osaka August 1933

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces
Of the ten New Zealand transport vessels within the first convoy, she was designated flagship of the New Zealand fleet

12th June 1917 as HMNZT- 86 departed with 26th Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force (part as dispersed over the two vessels, the other being the Willochra that departed three days earlier). Also carried 18th Reinforcements Maori Contingent and 26th Reinforcements NZ Rifle Brigade.
15 August 1917 disembarked at (unknown) England

Post hostilities saw conversion to oil fired propulsion and back in service 1919

Converted from coal to oil burning in 1922

Placed upon Pacific route of Auckland - Sydney - Vancouver. Later serviced San Francisco in an on - off role until 1936 when that service was discontinued. 1937 ran the trans-tasman route between New Zealand and Sydney until June 1940 when requisitioned as a Hospital Ship by the New Zealand Government.

Served admirably and at end of 1945, laid up at Wellington pending any decision on her fate. 1947 sold to G M Lykiardopulo, Panama flag
1948 owned by Cia Naviera del Atlantico (Hellenic Mediterranean Lines), Panama
1949 owned by Hellenic - Mediterranean Line, Greece who refitted her at Piraeus as a migrant vessel. She then saw Australian shores again in new livery as the Cyrenia with emigrants specifically from Genoa - Italy, Valetta - Malta and Piraeus - Greece. This service continued until 1956 when she was sold to Italian shipbreakers and scrapped February 1957

Survived Earthquake at Jamaica 1907 where she was beached, refloated successfully. Laid up 1910 she caught the attention of Union SS Co of New Zealand who acquired her for a new service from Australia - New Zealand to San Francisco via Tahiti. Prior to delivery at Sydney, she was refitted at Bristol England from (unknown in number) passenger accomodation status to the levels abovementioned, given the Company's livery and renamed 'Tahiti' Her inaugural voyage commenced Sydney 11 December 1911 to San Francisco via Wellington on a route nicknamed by the owners 'The Union Line'.

World War 1 saw her converted into a Troop Transport taking New Zealand Militiary personnel to France and Gallipoli

1919 converted to 'oil firing'. 1920 maiden voyage to Vancouver. 1921 San Francisco became her furthermost terminus from Sydney, her usual route for the rest of her career. Tragic incident occurred in Sydney Harbour November 1927 when she collided with and sank the Ferry 'Greycliffe' a resultant loss of 39 souls.

15 August 1930 when outbound from Wellington to Rarotonga her propellor shaft fractured, flailed and tore a gash in the ships hull. Incoming water saw a gradual and unstoppable flooding of the engine room initially, with further flooding of compartments at the ship's stern. 'Unstoppable' despite the watertight compartmental design, she sank on the 17 August 1930 in 18,000 feet of ocean depth, after all aboard including cargo had been rescued by the Matson liner 'Ventura' and an un-named Norwegian Tramp steamer

image personal collection

RUAPEHU

HMNZT 05, 79

1901-31

7705 gross tons. Lb: 139.4 x 17.7 metres. Passenger/cargo steamship built by W Denny & Bros, Dumbarton for New Zealand Shipping Co Ltd, registered Plymouth. 2 x three cylinder triple expansion steam engines, 5045 ihp, twin screws, 14.3 knots.21 February 1901 launched, completed - delivered 18 April 1901. Saw name change to Australasia when chartered out to the Allan Line, Glasgow for 5 round voyages to Canada from May until November 1901. December 1901 returned to owners and name reverted to Ruapehu
5th December 1901: departed Britain on her first sailing to New Zealand

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces
14 March 1917 as HMNZT 79 departed New Zealand with (part) 23rd Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force [roll No.57] in conjunction with Corinthic (HMNZT 80) a combined total of 2,094 with troops aboard Ruapehu under command of Captain J C McCarthy
21 May 1917 arrived Devonport England

June 1917 until May 1919 taken up under the British Admiralty's Liner Requisition Scheme

Post Hostilities

14 January 1921 resumed passenger sailings to New Zealand
29 April 1931 laid up at Falmouth.
5th August 1931 sold to SA Cant di Porto Venere for breaking up at Savona

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

9th November 1914 Wireless Operator picked up faint signal as broadcast from Direction Island, Cocos Islands of an 'Unknown Warship in Harbour'. Passed message on to escorting cruisers where HMAS Sydney was despatched from convoy and proceeded to Cocos Islands barely 50 miles away. Unknown Warship turned out to be the SMS Emden

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

Post Hostilities

1926 transferred to Aberdeen Line and renamed Herminius1932 retuened to Shaw, Savill & Albion Line renamed back as Waimana1939 The British Admiralty, converted into dummy battleship in replicating HMS Resolution1941 renamed Empire Waimana under Ministry Of War Transport (MOWT) and managed by Shaw Savill & Albion Line
1946 renamed Waimana as returned to owners - Shaw, Savill & Albion Line
1952 Scrapped at Milford Haven

14 December 1914 in conjuction with convoy ships Willochra (HMNZT 14) and Knight Of The Garter (HMNZT 15) departed New Zealand with 2nd Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force and steamed for Western Australia.
28 December assembled with fleet of the Second Convoy, departing for the Northern Hemisphere 31 December 1914.
28 January 1915 arrived Egypt

1918 requisitioned by the British Government
8th March 1919 (As Transport No 232) departed Southampton with OC of Troops - Lt Col Glendinning, Ship’s Master A M Edwin, and accomodated 42 officers, 1,014 other ranks and 7 nurses on board. Total 1063. 15 April disembarked at Wellington New Zealand

1919 Returned to original owners - Adelaide Steamship Co, Adelaide
1919 sold to the Bermuda & West Indies Steam Ship Co Ltd and renamed Fort VictoriaDecember 19th 1929 sunk in collision with the steamer Algonquin in New York Harbour . Wreck later blown up to clear channel. In her brief career, she never carried passengers along the Australian coast

Top left image courtesy State Library of Victoria, Top right image courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library New Zealand, colour image (a640328r) courtesy State Library New South Wales

as HMNZT- 14 and in conjuction with convoy ships Verdala (HMNZT 13) and Willochra (HMNZT 14) departed New Zealand with 2nd Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force and steamed for Western Australia.
28 December assembled with fleet of the Second Convoy, departing for the Northern Hemisphere 31 December 1914.
28 January 1915 arrived Egypt

1,991 gross tons, 1,370 net. Lbd: 280' x 38'2" x 21'. (85.3 x 17.6 metres). Passenger/cargo steamship built by Ramage & Ferguson at Leith Glasgow for Tasmanian SN Co, Hobart. Steel hull Single screw, triple expansion engine making 13 knots. Rigged for sail only as requiredAs a passenger vessel, she could accomodate 121 in first class and 51 in second class. Placced uon the Hobart - Melbourne service. 1891 ownership (along with takeover of Company) transferred to Union Steamship Co of New Zealand. Retained on regular service until 1890 when transferred to various routes of her new owners frequencies

October 1918 gained notorious fame as Spanish Flu carrier that wiped out 25% of Samoa's population1921 Laid up
1925 Hulked
22 January 1926 scuttled at Waikokopu

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APARIMA

HMNZT - 19, 26, 32, 46, 61, 76

1902-17

5704 gross tons. Lb: 430'5" x 54'3' Cargo steamship built by W Denny & Bros, Dumbarton for Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, London. Twin screw triple expansion steam engines making 13.5 knots. Aparima was especially designed for the Union Company's India service making over 30 voyages to Calcutta. In 1912 Aparima was fitted out to carry 50 cadets which were transferred from the Company's sail training ship Dartford

19 November 1917 Torpedoed by UB.40 when 6 miles SW of Anvil Point English Channel on passage London to Barry in ballast. A the loss of 54 crew including 17 cadets
It was not until 1952 that Union Steam Ship Company's vessels carried cadets again

image online source

WARRIMOO

HMNZT- 20, 34, 39

1892-1918

3,628 gross tons. Lb: 105.2 x 12.9 metres. on: 101901 Steel hulled, single screw, triple expansion engine. Passenger - cargo vessel built by C S Swan & Hunter at Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne for James Huddart, Melbourne. Service speed = 14.5 knots. Passenger accommodation for 367. Placed under management of Huddart Parker & Co, she traded the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, under the Company name 'New Zealand & Australian S N Co'. Company renamed Canadian - Australian Steamship Co., and taking in Vancouver as part of it's trans-pacific run. 1893 saw Fiji included in the service, taking passengers and cargo. 1901 saw the Company and fleet sold to Union Steamship Co of New Zealand. August 1909 saw the last departure of the Warrimoo from Fiji and the Company was encountering serious financial troubles. From then she was employed on the Tasman route

TRANSPORT VOYAGES

14 February 1915 as HMNZT 20 departed New Zealand with the Pioneer (Maori) Battalion known as 1st Maori Contingent, 515 troops in total under command of Captain W T Pitt. Travelled in a convoy with Maunganui, Tahiti and Aparima all arriving at Egypt 26 March 1915

17 April 1915 as HMNZT 22 and in convoy with Willochra (HMNZT 21) and Waitomo (HMNZT 23) departed New Zealnd with 4th Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force, a total of 2,254 persons.
25 May 1915 arrived at Egypt

4214 gross tons. Lb: 115.8 x 14.9 metres. Cargo steamship built by (or at) Northumberland at Howden as the Gifford for A Weir & Co. Single screw, triple expansion engine making 10 knots1913 sold to Union SS Co of New Zealand Ltd and renamed Waitomo

TRANSPORT VOYAGES17 April 1915 as HMNZT 23 and in convoy with Willochra (HMNZT 21) and Knight Templar (HMNZT 22) departed New Zealand with 4th Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force, a total of 2,254 persons accomodated aboard the the three vessels.
25 May 1915 arrived at the Suez, Egypt

Post Hostilities

1933 sold to China Pacific Navigation Co and renamed MeishunScrapped at Osaki late 1933

1920 withdrawn from service and laid up at Port Chalmers
1929 at Port Chalmers reduced to a hulk
4th March 1931 scuttled at Carey's Bay
16 July 1941 hulk was raised to recover scrap, cut down to the waterline and scuttled again December 1941 to strengthen the mole at Otago Heads

1939 Acquired by the British Admiralty, converted to dummy 'lookalike' vessel of the HMS Revenge
1941 Renamed Empire Pakeha by Ministry of War Transport (MOWT) converted to cargo ship and managed by Shaw, Savill & Albion

TRANSPORT VOYAGE2nd January 1917 as HMNZT 73 departed New Zealand with NZ Mounted Rifle Brigade Reinforcements
and the 12th Reinforcements Maori Contingent. Troops aboard under command of Captain Short
27 March 1917 arrived at London

12,231 gross tons. Lb: 152.5 x 19.3 metres. Passenger/cargo steamship built by Harland & Wolff. Belfast for the Oceanic Steam Ship Co (White Star Line). Single screw, triple expansion engine making 12 knots....................Although under Oceanic SS Co ownership, she operated under a joint service with Shaw Savill & Albion Line in trading between England and New Zealand. Sisterships Athenic and Ionic, both on the same service

16 May 1918 as HMNZT 104 departed New Zealand with 37th Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force and Specialists Company Medical Corps (part). A total of 251 troops under command of Captain G G Dennison
7th July 1918 arrived at London

..........................
28 September 1911 Sailed from London on her maiden voyage to Wellington
15 July 1916 Made the first NZ Shipping Co's passenger sailing through the Panama Canal, eastbound from Wellington to London

14 August 1917 until 19 February 1919 Taken up under the Liner Requisition Scheme

TRANSPORT VOYAGE

16 May 1918 as HMNZT 105 departed New Zealand with 38th Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force. A total of 761 troops under command of Colonel E H Saunders
31 July 1918 arrived at Liverpool England

Post Hostilities

7th September 1918 departed Liverpool as Troopship Number 191 with New Zealand Troops both able bodied and convalescing bound for New Zealand.
Disembarked at Wellington 23 October 1918
1920 Converted to burn oil fuel. Accommodation rebuilt. New tonnages as 11,158 gross, 7113 net
1927 Accommodation further altered with additional cabins on former boat deck, and boats re-positioned, revised tonnages as - 11,383 gross, 7246 net
19 April 1940 Requisitioned by Ministry Of War Transport for service in the Liner Division
26 August 1940 sunk by arial torpedoes launched by aircraft 12 miles N of Peterhead 57.50N/1.54W when bound from from Wellington to London. All 93 crew and one gunner were saved

2nd October 1918 as HMNZT 111 departed New Zealand with 43nd Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force (1st draft) and 32th Reinforcements Maori Contingent [roll No.90] . A total of 497 troops under command of Major S G Sandle
5th December 1918 arrived London

Post Hostilities

1928 sold to A Bernstein renamed Ilsenstein18 February 1940 scuttled at Skerry Sound, Scapa Flow

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MANUKA

No HMNZT number designated

1903-28

4505 gross tons, 2784 net. Lb: 368'7" x 47'2". on:117582 Passenger Cargo steamship built by William Denny & Brothers Dumbarton, Yard No 689 for Union Steamship Company of New Zealand. Launched: Tuesday, 8th September 1903, completed 1903. Schooner rigged twin screw steamer with passenger accommodation for 232 in First class and 135 Second class. Another record states - 243-1st, 116-2nd and 60-3rd classMay 1905 first voyage Sydney - Brisbane - Honolulu - Vancouver but sailed only intermittantly on this service and used mainly on the trans Tasman trade, that being - Wellington - Sydney - Hobart - Sydney - Wellington 'horseshoe' run
1908 when making a voyage on the Trans - Pacific route, picked up the passengers and crew of wrecked steamship 'Aeon' from Christmas Island September 23,1908. They had been marooned since July

1914 Remeasured at 4534 gross tons, 2813 net

1914 requisitioned as a Troop Transport. Not designated an official NZ Troop transport number

TRANSPORT VOYAGE

13 July 1916 departed New Zealand with 15th Mounted Rifles (102 troops) for Sydney where they were transferred aboard the RMS 'Malwa'. These Regiments arrived at their destination, Egypt 24 August 1916
5th October 1916 departed New Zealand with 17th and 18th Main Regiment (227 troops) for Sydney where they were transferred aboard the RMS Morea. These Regiments arrived at their destination, Egypt 14 November 1916
16 November 1916 departed New Zealand with 19th Mounted Rifles (113 troops) for Sydney where they were transferred aboard the RMS Malwa. These Regiments arrived at their destination, Egypt 24 January 1917
8th February 1917 departed New Zealand with 21st Mounted Rifles (135 troops) for Sydney where they were transferred aboard the RMS Malwa. Later trans-shipped at Bombay aboard A47 Mashobra arriving destination (England?) 4th April 1917
13 June 1918 departed Wellington New Zealand with New Zealand Expeditionary Force as 38th Mounted Rifles (145 troops) for Sydney. Transhipped onto Troopship 'Port Lyttelton'. Arrived final destination Suez, Egypt 3rd August 1918

This real photo postcard taken by W G Little at Hobart showing Troops aboard and defies current records of Troop movements during World War 1. As Manuka trans-shipped NZ forces to Sydney where they would have disembarked, this image reveals a Troop departure from Hobart. Possibly Australian Reinforcements (unstated) en-route to Sydney (Date unknown)

Post Hostilities

Visited Auckland 6 times between 22 Jul 1924 and 15 Feb 1927. December 1928 wrecked on Long Point south of The Nuggets, Otago New Zealand on passage Melbourne for Wellington